Improvement in ship- bu i lding



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,-

JOHN VILLIS GBIFFITHS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHIP-BUILDING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 51.308, dated December5, 1865.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN WILLIS GRIFEITI-Is, ofBrooklyn, in the countyof Kings, in the State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Constructing the Frames of Hulls of Vooden Vessels, whichIhave denominated Griftiths Timber, Knee, and Deck- Framing for Ships 5and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the aecompanying drawings,and to the letters of refer ence marked thereon.

By the present mode of construction, the frame-timbers of the hull andthe deck-beams bear no definite relation to each other in their sidingdimensions. The best arrangement now in practice looks only tooverlapping as much ot' the timber with the end of a beam as will coverthe body ot' the hanging knee, so as to receive the knee-bolts, whichmust iirst pass through the clamps before reaching the timber, while thearm of the knee projects below the beam and is bolted to it.

By my improvement the frame-timbers of the hull and the deck-frame aremade to harmonize in siding dimensions and position, and whether theframe-timbers of the hull be composed of a double or single course oftimbers, the deck-beams conform in their siding size, which makes roomfor the hanging knees in the interstices between the timbers and betweenthe beams, on the sides of each, instead of projecting, asheretotore,from the lower side of the beam and beyond the ceiling. Thespace for the cargo is thus increased by the removal of allprojectionsof hanging knees, and the vessel is greatly strengthened by theadditional number of hanging knees, there being two to each end of everybeam instead of one as heretofore. The beams at the same time continueto receive their clamp support by a piece of timber corresponding inwidth and thickness with the clamp-strake extending from the end ofthebeam to the upper strake of the clamp, which is at the terminus of thethroat of the knee, as shown in Figure l ofthe drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig'. l is a perspective elevation of ahalf-frame of the hull ot' a two-decked vessel, with the frametimber Aand floor-timbers B B; also, the beams C G, with the knees D D on thesides of the timbers and beams, the beamsupporters E E, and the clamps FF. Fig. 2 is a front view of hall:` the frame of a vessel having twodecks, with doors, beams, knees, beam-supporters. and clamps, designatedby the same letters as in Fig. 1.

I make the frame-timbers A and the beams B to agree in their sidingdimensions; the body of the hanging knees D and the frame-timbers toagree in their molding dimensions, and. the arms of the hanging kneesofthe same dimensions vertically as the beams. The knees are bolted tothe frame timber and beam, one on each side, making lush and evensurfaces therewith. The clamp-strakes Fare bolted to the timbers andknees, the upper edge being at the terminus of the throat of the knee,and the beam-supporter E is placed (the grain vertical) with its lowerend resting on the upper clamp-strake and its upper end receiving andsupporting the end of the beam, and it is bolted to the frame-timber.

By this method the frame, consisting of the beams, knees, andframe-timbers, is pnt rmly together before the frame is raised acrossthe keel, the beams and knees forming a part of the frame.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In hull-frames of wooden vessels, making the timbers and beams ofthesame dimensions in siding-way, substantially as shown and described.

2. Placing the hanging knees ou the sides of the timbers and beams,andin the interstices between lthe timbers and between the beams,substantially as shown and described.

3. The beam supporters E, extending from the upper clamp-strake to thebeam, substantially as shown and described.

4. The frame consisting of the beams, knees, frame-timbers,clamp-strakes, and beam-supporters. in combination, when constructed andput together substantially as herein described.

JOHN TILLIS GRIFFI'IEIS.

Witnesses J onN Coon,

I. I. CooMEs.

